Customer Reviews

Monks and Motorcycles: From Laos to London by the Seat of my Pants 1956-1958

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When I finished reading Franklin Huffman's travelogue--with a whole section of interesting pictures, albeit a bit faded and just black-and-white--the first thought that came to my mind was: It is hard these days to conceive of a young American traveling as freely through the world, particularly in Asia, as this author (also well-known linguist and accomplished diplomat) did in the fifties. All the more reason to do it vicariously, by reading it, chapter by chapter, one more interestig than the other, and enjoying funny happenings, cross-cultural misunderstandings, lessons in ethnolinguistics, and lots of geography--the last maybe more needed now than ever. The style is direct and highly accessible; the lessons are far-ranging and memorable. For the impatient reader: Each chapter can be read separately, like a short-story taking place in a different place.

Monks and Motorcycles is unlike any other book I've read, before or since. A fascinating account of an unforgettable adventure across Southeast Asia and beyond, Monks and Motorcycles challenges readers to think that breath taking experiences the world over are just a motor cycle ride away. Masterfully written and powerfully affecting, Monks and Motorcycles is a gift to dreamers and travelers alike! Don't let it pass you by.

This book captivates a sense of adventure and transformation from the `every day' life into the enchantment of what can be. Each chapter fits as almost complete stories, which allows the power of events to happen at a timely pace. Normally, I read several hundred pages, for this type of genre, in a few hours. Monk's and Motorcycles is the sort of book that lends itself to reading a chapter at time. The author's ideas leave `food for thought.' This book reflects a sincere person who's able to convey how his life is today as it stands, partly, on the `shoulders of the lessons learned in the time that this story takes place.